ZHAO XINTONG has activated a little-known rankings clause after reaching the last-four of the World Championships.
The Chinese star beat Chris Wakelin to book his place in the Crucible quarter-finals on Wednesday.
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Zhao, 28, will receive a guaranteed £100,000 following the 13-5 win over The Beast.
The 28-year-old is rebuilding his career after a 20-month ban for match fixing.
Xintong did not fix a match himself, but was one of 10 Chinese stars suspended in the sport’s biggest corruption scandal in 2023.
Despite starting again as an amateur, The Cyclone has stormed up the rankings this year.
Zhao now enters the top 64 in the world thanks to his six-figure payout in Sheffield.
The Chinese star was already set to rejoin the pro ranks with a two-year tour card earned on the Q Tour.
He was due to start next season with no ranking points.
But he has now secured a one-year card thanks to his exploits at the Crucible.
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And Zhao will be able to retain those valuable ranking points gained from his run in Sheffield thanks to a little-known loophole.
A WST statement confirmed: “Former UK Championship winner Zhao is already enjoying the deepest ever run in this event by an amateur, though he is set to rejoin the pro tour next season.
“If he reaches the last four, the guaranteed prize money of £100,000 will be enough to lift him into the top 64 of the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings.
“Which means that going into 2025/26, the 28-year-old will retain the ranking points he has earned this season.”
Zhao has looked more than comfortable in South Yorkshire and made short work of an in-form Wakelin.
Following his Round 2 win over Lei Peifan, he said: “The most intriguing part of the Crucible, is it doesn’t just test your overall game level, but also your mental toughness.
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“I think this match was also a self-challenge for me. If you want to win the World Championship, you have to go through challenges like this. I hope I can stay here longer.
“Although it’s my first time in the quarter-finals, I hope to go even further. I believe I have the ability.
“Over the next few days, I will continue adjusting my form and sharpen my touch during practice.
“Because the opponents ahead are all very strong, I must maintain an even calmer mindset.”
